Echoes of Eddie -13

Can a dead man reach out from the grave to exact revenge against those responsible for his death? Welcome to the thirteenth installment of a story that explores that possibility. If you've not done so, read the story from the beginning HERE.

"Aw ... come on, Steve." Eddie protested. "It's Saturday night. It's the best time to go up there."

"I can't. I told you on the phone that mom and dad went out and I have to watch David," Steve replied in dismay.

He was ready to punch his friend if he dared to say that demeaning word "babysitter." It was a label that no fourteen year old boy wanted placed on his reputation.

He had exhausted his attempts to get out of the duty with his parents earlier. Catherine, at nine was too young they had countered. Jack, sixteen, had just gotten his driver's license and was going out later with his friends. That left him.

Eddie was persistent, "Your brother Jack is still here. He's in his room. Why can't we go up there for just a little while and come back before he goes out?"

Steve considered his logic. Eddie was right, of course. He looked over at the clock on his desk. It was only six o'clock. Steve remembered that Jack told their parents he was meeting some friends down at the Burger Boy Foodorama at eight o'clock. They had two whole hours.

As he and Eddie tiptoed from his room he peeked into David's room. Steve smiled, his little brother was occupied with his T-Rex and Stegosaurus. He was maneuvering them into position for a battle to the death.

On their bikes it had taken them only ten minutes to reach the road that led to the top of the hill. What went on up there was a secret that everyone knew all about, but never mentioned. He and Eddie had overheard Jack and some of his friends call that spot "lovers lane," and as such they'd become very curious about the place. It wasn't until he had heard his mother talking to a neighbor about the weekend "submarine races" that took place up there, that he'd talked Eddie into checking it out to see what was really happening.

The first time they'd gone there, they saw a bunch boys and girls holding hands and kissing. To the two friends the sight was disgusting. They were girl haters through and through and they couldn't understand why the boys would want to be with girls and do what they were doing with them. That was until they heard giggling coming from the small pond that surrounded the cemetery.

They had crept as close as they could get without being seen or heard. What they saw that night changed everything they had held sacred. One of the girls was knee deep in the water ... and she was naked! He'd seen his sister Catherine without any clothes before, but she didn't look anything like that! Under a full moon there was nothing left to their imagination.

Then a boy stood up out of the water next to the girl. He was naked also. He had seen his brother Jack naked at home too, but he wasn't the same. It wasn't standing up and as big as the one on this boy. He didn't know if he should be looking or turning his eyes away.

He was mesmerized as the girl and the boy walked over to a tree and lie down in the grass together. Shortly, he was on top of her and he appeared to be doing pushups. It must have been hurting the girl, because she was moaning and crying out. The scene before them was not something that 14-year-old boys got to witness every day.

Eddie looked at him with a sheepish grin and Steve nodded. They were seeing that forbidden thing they heard so much about - sex! Just then he heard someone coming down the path in their direction. He motioned for Eddie to be still as the couple walked past them. He almost let out a loud gasp but managed to cup his hand over his mouth.

It was Jack ... with a girl! What he was he doing there? It wasn't eight o'clock yet. Then it hit him. Jack had lied to their parents. He'd have been in deep trouble if they knew he'd come up here.

He felt the sudden rush of blood from his head. David was home alone! If his parents came home early, he'd be in trouble too ... whipping trouble! With Eddie at his heels they ran down the hill as fast as their feet could carry them. He had to get back to the house, and in a hurry. So desperate their plight, neither noticed a small figure struggling up the path in the other direction not twenty yards from them.

Eddie kept on pedaling to his own house as Steve raced into the driveway. He had no way of knowing how his life was about to change forever. He didn't know what was waiting for him ...

His whole body shivered. He was cold, very cold. Steve opened his eyes and caught sight of something at the foot of the bed ... something blue and wraith-like. His eyes blurred from just waking up, he sat upright. His vision focused, he could see the blue curtains unfurled like a flag before the open window.

The voice sounded distant, "Steven, it's good you are getting some rest. You're going to need your strength and wits."

( to be continued.... Echoes of Eddie -14)

No.1299